AZURE STANDARD: Quality Bulk & Natural Foods
The story of Azure Standard really begins in 1971 when the Stelzer family made radical changes in the operation of their 2,000-acre dry-land wheat and cattle ranch. In the 1950's almost all the farmers in America began using chemical fertilizers because the lure of higher yields was just too great to pass up. Not long afterward, the soil deteriorated to the point where the weeds and insects began to attack the crops, so pesticides and herbicides soon followed. The Stelzer family was caught in the cycle like most farmers, until 1971 when they took their farm out of the chemical cycle "cold turkey," so to speak. In the first year, the chemical-dependent land only produced a small percentage of what it had formerly produced. At this point most farmers would have gone back to chemical use for economic survival. But, sticking to their convictions, they fought ignorance and lack of information in order to keep on without chemical use. As the years went on, the soil slowly regained its natural fertility. As a result of farming in this manner, both commercially, and on smaller scale in large gardens and orchards for their own use, their family became healthier. They began selling this healthier food to others who also wanted to reap the benefits of better nutrition. Their newfound customers soon began asking for different natural and organic products which they didn't grow there on their own farm, but they scrambled to find those products for them. Thus, in 1987, Azure Standard was born. They understand that naturally grown foods are instrumental in producing a long and satisfying life. They chose to call their business Azure Standard, to signify by the name what they are attempting to do. Azure is a shade of blue which has been associated with law, justice, and honesty. In raising an azure standard, they want to place an honest standard in the marketing of food. They feel that the correct way to effect a positive change is not to attack the way it is being done, but to begin to do it right. They are dedicated to the "organic principle" of cooperating with nature and they pray others will join them so that we may all once again see prosperity in our land.
Delivery is once per month. Lots of organic produce available. Many items are available in individual sizes..at bulk prices! Flexible schedules are required by all drop site members, as exact delivery times are not announced until the day before your group's scheduled delivery day.
If you wish to create a new drop site, please keep the following in mind: Your location will need room for an 18-wheeler to easily maneuver in and out and to park for about 20 minutes. Ordering every month is not required, but any month that you want a delivery, a minimum group order total of $550 is required (and minimum of $50/person). If you wish to set up a drop site that is more than 3 miles off of the driver's current route, you group's minimum order requirement increases by $85 for every mile over the 3 miles.
Click here for website! To view prices, you'll need to click "New Account" in top right corner....no payment info is required!
Azure will be more than happy to find an existing drop for you to join in your area. Please call Customer Service Department at 541-467-2230 and ask for help finding a drop point near you. Let the Customer Service Representative who answers the phone know you are a new customer and either want to find a drop point, or would like to become a drop point. He or she will guide you through what you need to do next and provide you with more information. You will then need to contact the drop point coordinator, ask to join their “drop” and get their name, address and which route(s) they order on. They will then give you information about when & where to pick up your orders.


NEBRASKA FOOD COOPERATIVE
Farmer/producers and consumers may join the cooperative and be buyers, sellers or both. Co-op members work together to operate the co-op although there is no obligation to volunteer. Consumers and producers that are located outside the state of Nebraska but who wish to participate in the co-op will have the opportunity to do so but are not eligible to become voting members. As a consumer, why should I join and buy my food through the Nebraska Food Cooperative? You will gain access to a reasonably priced, wide variety of safe, fresh, frozen, and processed food and non-food products grown and/or produced in Nebraska. You will be able to shop product offerings, such as meat, from multiple producers to compare prices, types, and the production practices used by each producer to find a product that meets your needs. You will gain access to foods free from growth hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms. You will have access to this wonderful line-up of products without ever having to leave your home or community if you choose. Order online and have a bountiful harvest of food delivered to a drop point in your community every month. The secret to great cooking lies in the ingredients. You will have access to fresher, higher quality food through the cooperative than almost anywhere else. You will learn new ways to prepare food including many new, delicious recipes. You will get to know the people who produce your food. There is a story behind every product the cooperative offers. You will play an important role alongside farmer producers and other consumers from across the state to increase the awareness, availability, and quality of local food. You will be contributing to the economic and social well-being of your state, community, and neighbors by buying products grown and produced in Nebraska. You will have a say in the operation of the cooperative and be a voting member.
CONTACT INFO:
Nebraska Food Cooperative
P.O. Box 94691
Lincoln, NE 68509-4691
(800) 993-2379
E-mail: info@nebraskafood.org
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NEW HORIZONS BUYING CLUB (South Omaha)
The New Horizons Club consists of about 50 families who order lots of good things every 4 weeks & get to share in good prices and a great selection of products, and enjoy the chance to do something together. We rent meeting space at a location in South Omaha. Most of our food products come from United Natural Foods in Iowa City, herbs and spices come from Frontier Herbs (also in Iowa), and seasonal foods come from local area farmers. We are a non-profit club, and each member contributes some time each month (usually 2 to 3 hours) to make the club work, and we've been doing it for 35 years! We're one of the biggest such clubs in the country, but we always welcome new members. Our mission is to provide natural, quality, healthful products at a reasonable and affordable cost. Health food store products without the overhead! Products included health food, supplements and beauty products at or close to wholesale costs! No surcharges! There is currently no sign-up fee! All are welcome to join. Feel free to visit us during a Saturday meeting.
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Stay updated by joining our Facebook fan page!
For more information, email Norma LeClerc (Coordinator): rleclerc787@yahoo.com

OPEN HARVEST: Natural Foods Cooperative Grocery Store (Lincoln, NE)
The goal of Open Harvest is to provide good health through good nutrition. Open Harvest provides high quality and natural foods with a high level of service and a reasonable price to the community of Lincoln. Open Harvest is a member-owned retail cooperative dedicated to equitable employment practices, support of local producers, consumer education, and sustainable agricultural practices. The goal of Open Harvest is to provide good health through good nutrition. A good percentage of the foods we sell are organic. We provide whole foods to our community, foods which remain as close as possible to the way nature made them and the way our bodies were designed to use them. We also provide nutritional information, vitamins, and supplements to our customers. Open Harvest provides high quality and natural foods. In many ways, the foods found at Open Harvest are of a higher quality than those found at most other grocery stores. For instance, we carry expeller-pressed cooking oils rather than oils extracted with the use of solvents. As a rule, we don't carry items that contain artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. In addition to customer service training, we provide natural foods training to all our staff so that every Open Harvest employee has a basic level of education about the products we carry. We also provide a grocery delivery service for seniors and shut-ins every Thursday. We stock several items in bulk, including many varieties of grains, nuts, snack foods, herbs, and spices. We offer a variety of discounts for member-owners of the co-op. We participate in the Co-op Advantage program in collaboration with other Co-ops throughout the nation. This allows us to buy larger quantities of certain items, making it possible for us to offer dozens of sale items to our customers each month. This store is truly a community owned business. There are over 3300 member-owners of Open Harvest. We buy from local producers whenever possible. Some products we buy locally on a regular basis include honey, eggs, milk, cheese, grains, produce, meat, beef, bison, chicken, and pork. In the store, our customers will find a variety of literature on health and whole foods issues. We provide store tours, teach cooking and wellness classes, speak at schools, and participate in local health fairs. We also write and publish our own newsletter and webpage. Open Harvest supports sustainable agriculture whenever possible. The co-op buys from Consumer Supported Agriculture ventures and organic farms and purchases products made from ingredients grown sustainably and organically. We are also supporting members of the Nebraska Sustainable Agriculture Society. We're open 8am-9pm every day! Check out our website for more details!